Cowboy's Debuts Pale in Comparison to Rangers' Gallo

Published at 9:50 AM CDT on Jun 3, 2015

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 21: Jason Witten #82 of the Dallas Cowboys scores a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in the second half at AT&T Stadium on December 21, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

In one swing last night, Joey Gallo produced a better career as a Ranger than Joey Galloway had as a Cowboy.

While the Rangers’ rising star debuted with three hits, a homer and four RBI for DFW’s baseball team, it evoked hideous memories of his sorta/almost namesake that never lived up to the hype for the football team.

Needing a big-play receiver in the wake of Michael Irvin’s retirement in 1999, owner Jerry Jones rolled the dice and traded – gulp – two first-round picks to the Seahawks for Galloway. While Seattle turned those picks into Shaun Alexander (NFL MVP in ’05) and Koren Robinson (team’s leading receiver from ’02-06), Galloway’s potential was immediately short-circuited in Dallas.

After signing him to a seven-year, $42 million contract and hailing him as Troy Aikman’s deep-threat target of the new millennium, Galloway whetted appetites by catching four passes for 62 yards and a touchdown in the ’00 opener against the Eagles at Texas Stadium. But, inexplicably, head coach Dave Campo kept him on the field in the game in a 41-14 blowout loss and with two minutes he tangled with a defender and tore his ACL, costing him the season.

He went on to catch only 12 touchdowns in four seasons with the Cowboys.

A look at other noteworthy Cowboys’ debuts:

Date

Player

Result

Stats

Sept. 19, 1965

Bob Hayes

W, 31-2

2 catches, 31 yards, 1 TD

Sept. 21, 1969

Roger Staubach

W, 24-3

7-of-15, 220 yards, 1 TD, 22 yards rushing

Sept. 18, 1977

Tony Dorsett

W, 16-10

4 carries, 11 yards

Sept. 4, 1988

Michael Irvin

L, 24-21

3 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD

Sept. 10, 1989

Troy Aikman

L, 35-0

17-of-35, 180 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT, 13 yards rushing

Sept. 9, 1990

Emmitt Smith

W, 17-14

2 carries, 2 yards

Oct. 29, 1995

Deion Sanders

W, 28-13

1 catch, 6 yards, 0 tackles, 0 INT

Sept. 7, 2003

Jason Witten

L, 27-13

1 catch, 13 yards

Sept. 10, 2006

Terrell Owens

L, 17-14

6 catches, 80 yards, 1 TD

Oct. 15, 2006

Tony Romo

W, 34--6

2-of-2, 35 yards, 1 TD

Sept. 12, 2010

Dez Bryant

L, 13-7

8 catches, 56 yards

A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.